The operation of Kuusamo’s folk high school started in 1909. The operation of the community college in Kuusamo started in 1961, and the offer of free educational work was complemented by the Kuusamo branch of the North Ostrobothnia Summer University, which started in 1974. The Kuusamo College, which started in early 2011, gathered these three units of liberal arts into one centre of liberal arts.
Kuusamo’s music academy started operating in 1979. The offer of basic art education was increased by the visual arts school for children and young people, which started in the 1990s. Kuusamo College has also offered basic education in dance and theatre.
Over the years, Kuusamo has also worked closely with the universities of Oulu and Lapland. This has been reflected in the implementation of several different educational programs and master’s programs. In addition, the Kajaani University of Applied Sciences has started annual degree-oriented training programs in Kuusamo.